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An update on future arrangements
Dear stakeholders and colleagues,
On 22 May we wrote to you to share our proposed approach to achieve the national requirement for ICB cost reductions. After careful consideration, you will recall, our Board agreed for us to submit a proposed plan to NHS England to work collaboratively with NHS Surrey Heartlands / NHS Sussex.
We are writing to you today to share that we have received confirmation from NHS England for the approach we proposed.
In a letter from Dr Penny Dash, Chair of NHS England, and Sir Jim Mackey, Chief Executive of NHS England to us this week, they shared that the submissions reflect the commitment to the direction set out in the Model ICB Blueprint. As per the submissions received, they have noted the intention to move from 42 ICBs to 26, consisting of 11 ICBs remaining on existing footprints and 15 clusters forming, and they shared with us that this has now been agreed by both the NHS England Executive and Ministers.
Further to this, we received confirmation yesterday from NHS England that the boundaries we proposed across Surrey and Sussex, which would see the Surrey Heath and Farnham areas coming back into the Surrey health system from the Frimley system have been accepted and we await confirmation of the timeline.
On this basis, we will be taking forward our transition work across both organisations to develop one organisational structure to deliver the cost reductions expected from all ICBs across the country. As you would expect preparation work is underway, and we will now formally develop this as a change programme across both organisations.
Alongside what will be within our new ICB organisation, we are also continuing the work that is underway to consider collaboration across our systems and across the South East Region to explore how services can be delivered more efficiently and consistently at scale. By identifying functions that can be delivered in a different way, we aim to reduce duplication, enhance quality, and make the best use of our collective resources.
We remain committed to keeping you informed and involved throughout this journey. Your partnership and insights are vital as we work together to deliver better outcomes for our communities.
Kind regards,
Ian Smith and Karen McDowell
Chair and
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